Kamil Pooran's Shock Call-Up: What It Means for West Indies

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West Indies have named opening batter Kamil Pooran in a T20I squad for the first time for their white-ball tour of India, which starts on September 27. Shimron Hetmyer also earns a place in the T20I side, while Jason Holder does not feature in either squad.

West Indies cricket just dropped a squad announcement that's got fans talking. Opening batter Kamil Pooran has earned his first T20I call-up for the upcoming white-ball tour of India, starting September 27. It's a big moment for the young man, and it signals a clear shift in how the selectors are thinking about the future. ### Kamil Pooran's Breakout Season If you've been following the Caribbean Premier League, you saw this coming. Pooran racked up 273 runs in eight innings for the St Lucia Kings at a blistering strike rate of 159.64. He even finished unbeaten on a fifty in one match to seal a win for his team. That kind of performance doesn't go unnoticed. Cricket West Indies (CWI) said in a release that the selection is part of a planned effort to find and build emerging players ahead of the 2028 T20 World Cup. So this isn't just a reward—it's a strategic move. ### Shimron Hetmyer Skips ODIs, Jason Holder Rested Shimron Hetmyer, the second-highest run-scorer in CPL 2026, will sit out the three-match ODI series but will join the team in India for the five T20Is. CWI says he remains committed to West Indies but needs an extended recovery period after a heavy CPL schedule. He last played the final two ODIs of the home series against New Zealand in July, where he scored an unbeaten 69 in the fifth ODI—a match West Indies won. Jason Holder, who captained St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the CPL, has been rested and doesn't feature in either squad. He hasn't played an ODI since July 2023, though he was part of the T20I side against Sri Lanka in June. ### New Faces and Returning Players Middle-order batter Quentin Sampson is another T20I prospect in the group, and Jewel Andrew, who last played for West Indies in September 2025, is part of both the ODI and T20I squads. Shai Hope will captain both sides. Opener John Campbell returns to the ODI squad after recovering from a hamstring injury. Ackeem Auguste is out of the tour while he recovers from surgery that took place in August. ### Tour Dates and World Cup Qualification West Indies will play three ODIs and five T20Is across eight cities in India between September 27 and October 18. The squad leaves home on September 21 and reaches Thiruvananthapuram on September 23. The first two ODIs close the automatic qualification period for the 2027 ICC men's ODI World Cup. West Indies still have to play the qualification tournament early next year, because even wins in the series won't lift them above their nearest challengers in the standings. Head coach Daren Sammy said playing against the top team in the world lets West Indies fine-tune their ODI performances, and that the series gives the team a chance to assess players in new roles with the 2027 World Cup in mind. ### Full Squads **West Indies ODI squad:** - Shai Hope (capt) - Jewel Andrew - John Campbell - Keacy Carty - Roston Chase - Matthew Forde - Justin Greaves - Amir Jangoo - Alzarri Joseph - Shamar Joseph - Vitel Lawes - Gudakesh Motie - Keemo Paul - Sherfane Rutherford - Jayden Seales **West Indies T20I squad:** - Shai Hope (capt) - Jewel Andrew - Roston Chase - Matthew Forde - Shimron Hetmyer - Akeal Hosein - Shamar Joseph - Gudakesh Motie - Keemo Paul - Kamil Pooran - Rovman Powell - Sherfane Rutherford - Quentin Sampson - Romario Shepherd - Shamar Springer For more cricket news and updates, visit JeetWin Blog!

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